James t



' (No Model.)

J. T. GORDON & J. H. HAMILTON.

SLIDING DOOR LATCH.

Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. GORDON AND JOHN HENRY HAMILTON, OF CONCORD, N. H.

SLIDING-DOOR LATCH.

CI ECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,638, dated February 23, 1886.

Application filed November 24, 1885. Serial No. 183,843. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES T. GORDON and JOHN HENRY HAMILTON, citizens of the United States, residing at Concord, in the county of Merrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sliding Door Latches, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this improvement is to provide a durable latching device that is generally applicable to sliding doors, and that may be securely connected by a strong padlock, and that is adapted to be additionally secured against being interfered with by a sealed connection of its parts. These results are att ained by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings herewith filed as part hereof, in which the same letters of reference denote the same parts in the different views.

Figure l is a side elevation representing a freight-car provided with sliding-door-latching mechanism embodying the features of our improvement. Fig. 2 is a View of the same, showing one of the parts of our improved mechanism in a different position from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing all the parts and their connections in a different position from that before shown, and more fully illustrating the construction and relation of the parts. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view representing the parts enlarged, and provided with a lock for securing their connection. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View illustrating the mode of sealing of the parts.

A is the car-door, suspended by means of rollers H H from a bar, H, affixed to the body of the car, and arranged to slide back and forth in the usual manner.

Bis an eye-plate bolted to the car-door, substantiallyin the position shown, for apurpose hereinafter more fully explained.

E is a metal plate secured to the body of the car F by any suitable means. 0 is the latch, pivoted to the plate E at c, and made substantially in the form shown, in order that the principal weight of the same may be located on the side of the pivot c farthest from the car-door. The latch is provided with a perforated extension, 0", for the reception of the bow or shackle of a padlock, L, as shown in Fig. 4. The lower part of the latch O is also provided with arecess, c, for the reception of the eye of the plate 13.

D is an additional latch pivoted to the main latch at d, and provided with a perforated projection, d, adapted to engage corresponding perforated projections, c c, of the latch O, and be connected thereto byawire, g, inserted into such perforations, and provided with a sealed connection, S, near its ends, as shown in Fig. 5.

The plate E is provided with a projection, b, in position to engage with the end of the additional latch D, and thereby lock the position of the latch, as shown in Fig. 1.

By removing the wire from the perforated projections of the latches O and D the latch D may be elevated by means of the knob cl, as shown in Fig. 2, and when the padlock is removed from the projection c of the main latch the car-door may be opened, as indicated in Fig. 8, and by reason of the principal weight of the latch Cbeing to the right of the pivot c the parts will automatically take the positions shown, which are adapted to automatic readjustment to the positions shown in Fig. 1 by the return of the car-door by the engagement of the eye-plate B with the adjacent parts of the latch 0, when the lock L,wire g, and sealing S may be applied.

Having explained the features of our iinprovement, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sliding-door fastening, the combination, with an eye-plate secured to said door, of a swiveled plate provided with a finger adapted to automatically enter the eye in said eye-plate while said door is sliding shut, and a dog pivoted to said swiveled plate and adapted to automatically fall against a suitable stop and secure said locking mechanism, substantially as and in the manner specified.

2. The combination, with an eye-plate, of a swiveled plate provided with a finger adapted to automatically enter the eye in said eye-plate by contact with the same,and having a perforation near its end for the reception of the shackle of a padlock, and a dog pivoted to said swivel -plate and adapted to fall against a suitable stop automatically, all constructed and operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a sliding-door fastening, substantially as described, the combination,with a swiveled In testimony whereof we affix our signatures plate having perforated lugs or projections, of in presence of two witnesses. a dog pivoted thereon, having a perforated JAMES T GORDON projection adapted to fit between the projee- "r 5 tions on said swiveled plate, and a rigid stop JOHN HENRY HAMILTOL' against which said dog may rest, all construct- Vitnesses: ed and arranged to operate in the manner and EDGAR H. \VOODMAN, for the purpose set forth. FRANK E. SHEPARD. 

